Engine-starting mechanism



June 24, 1930. R.' P. LANSING ENGINE STARTING MECHANISM Fil l A ril 19. 1925 3-Sheets-Sheet 1 Zhwent or Juhe 24, 1930'.

4 RH.- P. LANSING ENGINE STARTING MECHANISM Fi l'gd April 19. 1929 sheets-sheet 2' w ill?! 0 I Zhwentor June 24,1930. R.P. LANSING 1,768,083

ENG'INE STARTING MEciumIs Fiied-Apr i l 19, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I 3|mentor Patented June 24, 1930 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE RAYMOND I; LANSING, OF MONTCLAIB, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TOYECLIPSE MA- CHmE COMEANY, OF ELMIRA HEIGHTS, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK Application filed April 19,

This invention relates to starting mechanisms for internal combustion engines, and more particularly to engine'starters of the inertia type.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide engine starting mechanism of the inertia type embodying novel means for cranking or accelerating the inertia member.

Another object is to provide inertia starting mechanism for engines of aeroplanes or other vehicles embodying novel means whereby the starting mechanism may be cranked or accelerated either manually or by means of power external to the aeroplane or other vehicle on which the apparatus is mounted. I v

A further object is to provide novel engine starting apparatus of the inertia type .adapted to be mounted on an aeroplane or other vehicle and embodying 'novel cranking or accelerating means accessible exteriorly of'the aeroplane in combination with a portable power accelerating means energized from an external source of power and adapted to be engaged manually with the crankmg means. a

One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings, but it.-is to be expressly understood that said drawings are for purposes of illustration-only and are not to be construed as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims for this purpose,

In said drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the use of the invention as applied to an aeroplane; 1 Fig. 2 is a view showing the cranldng connection on the exterior of the aeroplane body or fuselage; Y Fig. 3'is an endview of the power accelerating means;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section ofthestarting mechanism; and a Fig. 5 is a plan view in section and with parts broken away, -illustrating'another embodiment of the invention Referring now to' the drawings, wherein a like reference numerals indicate. like parts throughout the several views, and more par- 1929. Serial No. 356,542.

ticularly to Fig. 4, the starting mechanism of the present invention comprises a suitable casing embodying an inner end section 2, suitably secured as by means of screws 3 to the crank case 4 of the engine, an intermediate section secured to section 2 by screws 6, and an outer end section 7 secured to the intermediate section 5 by means of bolts 8. An end plate or diaphragm 9, preferably integral with the intermediate casing section 5 is provided with a laterally extendingboss 10 which carries ball bearings 11 forming a support for a flywheel 12, of relatively small size and light weight, that is adapted for high speed rotation so as to store energy therein for cranking the engine.

The energy stored in the rapidly rotating flywheel is transmitted to the engine to be started through a suitabletrain of reduction gearing. In the form shown, a stub shaft. 13 extends through the hub of flywheel 12 and is held therein by means of a nut 14 on its outer end, the shaft and flywheel being keyed together at 15. A small pinion 16 formed on the inner end of the stub shaft 13 meshes with a relatively large pinion 17 formed on the periphery of a bell-shaped member 18, the latter being rotatably mounted by means of: a shaft 19 in a pair of ball bearings 20 mounted in a tubular portion 21 .of the end plate 9. A small pinion 22 formed on the inner end of the member 18 meshes with a relatively large internal gear- 23 which is rotatably mounted by means of a hub portion 24 on a short hollow shaft 25 which extends outwardly from the closed end of'a barrel shaped member 26. A pinion 27 formed on the hub portion 2 L constitutes a sun gear which meshes with a plurality of planetarygears, preferably three in number, one of which is shown in section at 28, and said planetary gears in turn mesh with a' ring gear 29 secured to the casing b screws 30. The planetary gears 28 are pre ertbly mounted on the closed end of the barrel 26 by means of ball bearings 31, centered by means of sleeves 32 that are countersunk in the closed end ofthe barrel 26 and are held in place by screws 33 and a retaining ring 34.

Rotation of the flywheel 12 is transmitted by the train of gearing above described to the barrel 26 and causes rotation of the latclutch disks 29, which are annular'in form,

are splined at their outer periphery to the inner surface of barrel 26, and the remaining clutch disks are splincd at their inner peripheries'to the outer surface of an interiorly threaded nut 40. The clutch disks are held between the closed end of barrel 26 and a flange 41 formed on the nut 40.

Suitable yielding means are provided for maintaining the clutch disks in frictional engagement with one another, which-means is preferably adjustable whereby the amount of torque transmitted by the clutch may be varied. For this purpose a plurality of coil springs 42 bear against the flange 41, the springs being held in position by means of pins 43 carried by a spacer ring 44. The tension of the springs may be adjusted by means of an adjusting nut 45 threaded in the barrel 26.

A threaded shaft 46 is positioned within the interiorly threaded nut 40 and is adapted for relative rotary and longitudinal movement therein. The outer end of the shaft 46 carries a stop nut 47 adapted to engage an interior shoulder in .the nut 40 to limit the longitudinal movement of the shaft, and a portion of the shaft adjacent its inner end is provided with longitudinal splines which engage corresponding splines formed on the interior" of a hub portion 48 formed into grally with the jaw 36. A light coil spring 49 is interposed between the shaft 46 and the jaw 36, the outer extremity of said spring eing preferably seated in a recess formed in the shaft.

Any suitable means may be'employed for axially displacing the jaw 36 to engage jaw 37, but in the form shown a rod 50 passes concentrically through the hub 25, barrel 26, shaft 46 and jaw 36, and is provided intermediate' its ends with a shoulder 51 engaging the outer end of the shaft 46 and on its inner end with a nut 52. The rod 50 may be displaced by any suitable mechanism (not shown) extending externally Y of the starter casing.

It is desirable to provide means whereby the. flywheel 12 may be cranked or accelerated by hand and brought up to speed, and in the form shown said means embodies a hand cranking shaft disposed substantially at right angles to the axis of rotation of the flywheel and drivably connected with the .reduotion gearing near its low speed end.

end of the shaft 56 projects exteriorly of the starter casing and is-suitably formed for connecting a hand crank thereto, the end of the shaft being accessible exteriorly of the body or fuselage 1 of the aeroplane through a hole 58 therein.

When a hand crank (not shown) is fitted to the shaft 56 and rotated, the rotation thereof is transmitted through the bevel gears 53, 55 to the barrel 26 and then through the train of gearing above described to the flywheel 12.

It is further desirable, for reasons to be pointed out more fully hereafter, to provide suitable means accessible exteriorly of the aeroplane fuselage whereby the flywheel 12 may be cranked or accelerated by power means. In the form shown, a stub shaft 59, mounted in ball bearing 60, which are positioned in the outer end of easing section 7 is threaded for a portion of its length, as at 61, to receive a clutch member 62 that is adapted to engage a corresponding clutch member 63 secured to the face of the fly wheel 12 by any suitable means such as screws 64. The clutch member 62 is normally held in the position shown in the drawings, (disengaged position) by a light coil spring 65 interposed between said clutch member and a nut 66 secured on the end of the shaft 59, but when the latter is rotated the inertia of the clutch member 62 causes the same to rotate on the shaft 59 and overcoming the spring 65 to move longitudinally of the shaft until it engages the clutch member 63 and rotates the flywheel.

A bevel gear 67 drivably attached to the outer end of shaft 59 meshes with a bevel gear 68 carried by a shaft 69 mounted in ball bearings 70 and extending substantially at right angles to the axis of rotation of shaft 59, the latter being substantially coaxial with flywheel 12. The end of the shaft 69 projects outside the starter casing and is extended by any suitable means such as the tubular member 71 which preferably terminates in an opening 72 formed in the aeroplane fuselage 1. A suitable housing 73, secured to the outer surface of the fuselage by means of bolts 74, carries a ball bearing 75 in which is rotatably mounted a clutch member 76, said clutch member being provided with an inwardly projecting portion 77 extending within the tubular member 71 and pinned thereto at 78.

As seen more clearly in Figs. 1 and 2, the clutch member 76 is adapted to be engaged by any corresponding clutch member driven from any suitable source of power external to the aeroplane, whereby the flywheel 12 may be accelerated to the'desired speed. Preferably, aportable hand accelera-tor, which embodies an electric motor that may be energized from any suitable source of current such as a ground battery or the service current of a hangar is employed for this purpose.

Referring again to Fig. 4, the hand accelerator comprises a substantially cylindrical casing 79 carrying ball bearings 80 for the armature shaft 81 of an electric motor 82 of any suitable type. As shown, a direct current motor is employed which is energized through commutator brushes 83 connected to a cable 84 which extends from the accelerator casing to a suitable source of current, as indicated in Fig. 1. A handle 85 is provided for handling the portable accelerator and preferably this handle includes a hand starting switch for the motor which may comprise, for example, a pair of spring contacts 86 connected to the cable 84, one of which is adapted to be pressed into engagement with the other by means of a lever 87 actuated by a finger piece 88.

The inner end of the armature shaft 81 of the motor is preferably hollow, and a clutch member 89 which is adapted to engage the corresponding clutch member 76 is slidably. mounted on the hollow end of the shaft, said clutch member being rotated by means of a pin 90 extending through longitudinal slots in the shaft. A coil spring 91 seated in the hollow end of the shaft bears against the pin 90 and urges the clutch member 89 outwardly so that the cooperating clutch members 76 and 89 are yieldingly engaged with the accelerator in the position shown in Fig. 1. It 'is desirable to provide suitable means for locking the accelerator in this position, and as shown, the housing 73 is provided with bayonet slots 92 which are engaged by pins 93 on the accelerator casing 79. I

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: \Vhen it is desired to employ power means for accelerating the starter mechanism, the portable accelerator is connected to a suitable source of current and is carried by an operator on the ground to the aeroplane, as shown in Fig. 1. The pins 93 on the accelerator casing are engaged with the bayonet slots 92 and the accelerator is given a partial rotation in a. counterclockwise di rection, as viewed in Fig. 1, whereby it is locked in engagement with the housing 73 and in a position such that the clutch members 76 and 89 are yieldingly engaged. The finger piece'SS is 'then depressed, whereupon the motor is' energized and shafts69 and 59 in Fig. 4, whereupon the jaw 36 is resiliently" displaced into driving engagement with the aw 37. As soon as the engine operates under 1ts own power, shaft 38 overruns the shaft 16, whereupon the inclination of the teeth of the jaws forces the jaw 36 out of driving position.

As soon as the flywheel 12 has been brought up to speed, in a manner described above, the ground operator who is handling the accelerator releases the finger piece 88 Whereupon the motor stops and the clutch member 63 overruns the shaft 59, the rotation of the clutch member 62 on its threads causing it to withdraw from driving engagement to the position shown in Fig. 4 in which it is thereafter held by the spring 65. The accelerator may be moved from operative position at any time by simply rotating the casing in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, to disengage the pins 98 from the bayonet slots 92. If in any event it is impossible or undersirable to use the power accelerator, the starter may be accelerated by hand by fitting a hand crank through the hole 58 onto the end of the hand cranking shaft 56, whereupon the flywheelmay be brought up to speed by hand and the engine started as above described. It will also be seen that the power and manual means may be employed jointly, if desired.

In certain installations it is desirable to provide inertia starting mechanism which is so constituted that energy may be stored in the inertia element by manually operable means, or by power means'carried by the vehicle, such as an aeroplane, and additionally to provide means whereby the energy may be stored in the inertia element by'portable power accelerating means adapted to be energized froman external source of power.

Referring to Fig. 5, there is illustrated mechanism somewhat similar to that shown in Fig. 4, but differing therefrom in that the end housing section 7 is replaced by a housing section as to the outer end of which is secured a motor 95. Drivably connected in any suitable manner to the armature shaft 96 is a stub shaft 97 which carries at its inner end the bevel gear 67 which meshes with bevel gear 68 adapted to be driven by the electric motor 82. The flywheel 12 may be energized by actuation of hand-cranking shaft 56, by means of motor 82, or by means of the motor 95, the latter being operatively connected through leads 98 to a source of power, such as a battery, carried by the aeroplane. When the external motor 82 is employed, no drain is placed on the battery carried by the plane. When an external source of power is not available, motor 98 may be employed to automatically energize or store energy in flywheel 12, or it may be used simultaneously with the cranking shaft 56 to energize the inertia element. Common means are provided for drivably connecting motor 82 and motor 95 to the flywheel and said means, which include clutch member 63, are automatic in operation.

There isthus provided a starter for internal combustion engines, and particularly for aeroplane engines, which is so con-- structed that the same may be energized by hand, or by power means actuated from an external source of power, or by power means adapted to be actuated from a source of power carried by the vehicle or aeroplane. The portable power accelerator is light, compact, and readily handled, and may be quickly engaged with and disengaged from the shaft 71. No appreciable effort or skill is required on the part of the ground attendant to operatively engage the motor 82 with the shaft 71, and when so engaged the driving connection is maintained while the motor is running, but is automatically broken when the motor is stopped. The external motor 82 may be employed for energizing any number of starter flywheels, thus conserving the batteries carried by the vehicles or aeroplanes.

Changes may be made in the details of construction and arrangement of parts, and certain parts may be used without others,

' as will now be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Reference will therefore be had to the appended claims for a definition of the limits of the invention.

\Vhat is claimed is: 1. In engine starting apparatus, inertia starting mechanism including an inertia member adapted for high speed rotation,

means including reduction gearing for drivably enga ing said inertia member with a member 0 an engine to be started, a clutch member adapted to engage said inertia member for rotating the latter, driving means for said clutch means, portable accelerating apparatus for said inertia mechanism including anelectric motor adapted to be energized from an external source of current, and means for detachably locking said portable apparatus in driving engagement 2. In starting apparatus for internal com bustion engines, inertia starting mechanism including a high speed flywheel, a train of reduction gearing driven by said flywheel, a clutch member drivably connected with said gearing and adapted to engage a member of an engine to be started, means drivably engaging said. flywheel for rotating tor adapted to be energized from an externalv source of current, means driven by said motor and adapted to engage said first named means, and means for releasably securing said accelerator in a position in which said first and secondnamed means are drivably engaged.

In engine startin apparatus, a flywheel adapted for big speed rotation, a clutch member adapted to engage a member of an engine to be started, a train of reduction gearing drivably connecting said flywheel and clutch member, hand cranking means drivably connected to said reduction gearing, means drivably engaging said flywheel for rotating the latter, a portable accelerator including an electric motor, means,

for energizing said motor from a source of current external to said aeroplane, switch means for said motor, and means for drivably connecting said motor with the flywheel rotating means. v

4. In starting apparatus forinternal combustion engines, an inertia member adapted for high speed rotation, a train of reduction gearing drivably connected with said inertia member, a clutch member drivably connected with said gearing and adapted to engage a member of an engine to be started, a hand cranking shaft drivably engaged with said train of gearing adjacent the low speed end thereof, means engaging said inertia member for rotating the latter, an accelerator for said inertia member inmotor therein, means or energizing said motor from an external source of current,

clutch means driven by said motor and adapted to engage said rotating means, and means for detachably locking said casing in a position in which said clutch means is engaged with said rotatmg means.

5. n starting apparatus for aeroplane en ines, a high speed flywheel, a train of reduction'gearing drivably connected with said flywheel, clutchmechanism driven by said gearing and adapted for engagement with a member of an engine to be started, hand cranking mechanism including a gear meshing with said gearing adjacent the low speed end of the train, rotating means for engaging said flywheel and includin clutch means accessible exteriorly of the uselage of the aeroplane, an accelerating tool pro vided with a portable casing having an electric motor therein, 'means for energizing said motor from a source of current external to the aeroplane, a clutch means driven by the motor and adapted to engage said first named clutch means, and bayonet joint means for locking said accelerator casing to the fuselage of the aeroplane lnaposition in which said cooperating clutch means are engaged to rotate said flywheel.

6. In starting apparatus for aeroplane engines, a flywheel adapted for high speed rotation, a'clutch adapted to engage a member of an engine to be started, means drivably connecting said clutch and flywheel including a train of reduction gearing and a yieldable driving connection, a hand cranking shaft drivably connected wlth said train of gearing adjacent the low speed end thereof, clutch means formed on said flywheel, a rotatable clutch member, means for displacing said clutch member axially on rotation thereof to engage. said clutch means, means accessible exteriorly of the aeroplane for rotating said clutch member, a portable accelerating motor, and means driven by said motor and adapted to be engaged manually with said rotating means.

7. In starting apparatus for aeroplane engines, a high speed flywheel, a clutch member adapted to be shifted axially to engage a member of an engine to be started, a train of reduction gearing drivably connecting said flywheel and clutch member, a hand cranking shaft. drivably connected to said gearing adjacent the low speed end of the train, said cranking shaft extending substantially at right angles to the axis of rotation of said flywheel and being accessible from the exterior of the aeroplane, a power cranking shaft drivably connectedto said flywheel, said power shaft extending substantially parallel to said hand/ cranking shaft and being accessible exteriorly of said aeroplane, a portable power cranking means including an electric motor and a clutch adapted to be engaged manually with said power shaft, and means for locking said power cranking means in a position in which said clutch is maintained in engagement with said power ft.

8. In starting apparatus foz aroplane engines, an inertia member adaptec or high speed rotation, a cranking shaft drivably connected with said inertia member, said shaft projecting exteriorly of the fuselage of the aeroplane and having a clutch memher on its outer end, a housing for said clutch member mounted on the aeroplane fuselage, a portable accelerator for the inertia mechanism including an electric motor, a clutch member driven by said motor, an accelerator casing housing said motor and clutch member, said casing having an open enda'dapted to engage said housing and 00- operating bayonet joint means formed on said housing and easing whereby said portable accelerator may be locked in a position wherein said clutch members are engaged to drive the inertia member.

9. In engine starting apparatus, an engine engaging member, a high speed flywheel constituting an inertia member, means including reduction gearing for. drivablyconnecting'the flywheel and engine engaging member, a manually operable crankin shaft connected to the low speed end of the gearing for rotating the flywheel to store energy therein, and power means for rotating the flywheel to store energy therein,

' said power means including a motor, a

clutch member adapted for operative engagement with said flywheel, and means including a bayonet joint member for drivablyconnecting the motor with said clutch member.

10. In engine starting apparatus, a housing, a high speed flywheel rotatably mounted therein, means including an engine en gaging member drivably connected to the flywheel, and means for rotating the flywheel to store energy therein, said last named means including a shaft rotatably mounted in the housing and disposed substantially coaxially with the flywheel, a clutch member carried by the shaft and adapted for movement into driving engagement with the flywheel, a bayonet joint member, a motor adapted to engage said bayonet joint member, and means for drivably connecting the armature shaft of the motor to said first named shaft.

11. In engine starting apparatus, a hous ing, a flywheel rotatably mounted in said housing, means including an engine engaging member drivably connected to the fly Wheel, a pair of shafts rotatably mounted in the housing, one of said shafts being disposed substantially coaxially with said flywheel, and the other of said shafts being disposed at an angle thereto, a clutch member carried by said coaxial shaft and adapted to drivably connect the flywheel with said shaft, means for drivably connecting the shafts, and an electric niotor adapted to be drivably connected to the angularly disposed shaft.

-12. In engine starting apparatus, a housing, a high speed flywheel rotatably mounted in the housing, an engine engaging member adapted to be driven by the flywheel, means including reduction gearing for drivably connecting the flywheel, and engine engaging member, a manually operable cranking shaft havingdriving engagement with the low speed end of the gearing, a second cranking shaft, means including a clutch member foridrivably connecting the second cranking shaft to the flywheel and an electric motor adapted to be removably connected tosaid second cranking shaft for actuating the latter.

13. In engine starting apparatus, a housing, a high speed rotatable member constituting an inertia element mounted in said housing, means including an engine engag- 'ing member adapted to be driven by the flywheel, and means for rotating the flywheel to store energy therein, said last named means includin an electric motor, a-clutch member adapte to be driven b the motor, the clutch member being movab e into driving engagement with the flywheel, and means including a-bayonet joint member for detachably connecting the motor to said clutch.

14. In engine starting apparatus, an engine engaging member, a rotatable inertia element adapted to drive said member, means for drivably connecting the inertia element and engine engaging memberv manually operable means for rotating said element to store energytherein, a plurality of motors for rotating the inertia element to store energy therein, and means' for drivably connecting said motors 'to said fly: wheel, said motors being independently operable.

15. In engine starting apparatus of the type embodying a hi h speed flywheel, the combination with sai flywheel of a plurality of motors, and common means for automatically establishing a driving connection between any one of said motors and said flywheel whereby energy may be stored in the flywheel.

In testimony whereof- I have signed this specification.

RAYMOND P. LANSING. 

